The project will include a hot mix asphalt overlay of the bridge deck, joint replacement, sidewalk repair, new guard rails, concrete surface coating and approach work.

Stan Kirton, director of the city’s department of public works, said the project will be completed before the rebuild of a severely crumbling section of Prospect Road around a quarter mile to the north of the bridge because funding for the bridge was available first.

“This funding is from the state local bridge fund, which is a different pot of money (than the Prospect Road rebuild funds)," Kirton said. “We put in an application a couple years ago, and this is when the money is available.”

At its April 15 meeting, the Ypsilanti City Council approved spending $12,800 for the project. The rehab’s total cost is $256,000, but the city is receiving $205,000 in federal Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation funds and $38,000 in state local bridge funds to help pay for the repairs

The rebuild of Prospect Road to the north will be completed in 2015, though council approved a temporary overlay for the road’s roughest spots at its April 15 meeting.

No timeline for the bridge rebuild is available, though Kirton said he expects the project to get underway sometime in early June and the area will remain fully closed for around 45 days. The city opted for a full closure to speed up the project, Kirton said.

“That way we can get it together quicker. We’re hoping the weather cooperates and everything is what we predict it to be,” he said. “Hopefully it’s less than 45 days, but right now we’re saying 45 days.”

The official detour will take motorists headed northbound on Prospect Road west on Michigan Avenue to northbound Huron Street. From there the detour goes to eastbound Cross Street and back to Prospect.

Southbound Prospect traffic will be directed to westbound Cross Street. The detour then takes motorists south on Hamilton Street and back to eastbound Michigan Avenue. That will bring motorists back to Prospect.